Luke quietly left the house. Jenny went back to her bedroom, so
she didn't notice him leave. She couldn't believe what she saw.
She knew that her son was gay, but even with seeing him with Luke
it didn't really hit her until she saw them in bed together. Her
son is gay. She went to her bedroom to think, think about how she
was going to handle this. She didn't really mind them being
together, but she wasn't sure if she was comfortable with them
doing it in her house, with the kids running around and
everything. Especially since they feel so close with Ken, they
usually just go into his room without knocking. So she was
thinking that she could've easily been one of the younger kids.

����������� When she was finished thinking things over in her
head, she headed over to Ken's room to have little chat with him.
She knocked, and when he didn't answer, she helped herself into
his room. When he wasn't in there, she figured that he was in the
shower, so she decided to wait until he got back. She sat on the
edge of his bed. She looked around his room and thought what
every mom thinks when she knows her son is gay 'What ever
happened to my little baby boy?' As she was thinking this, Ken
walked in with a t-shirt on, and a towel wrapped around his
waist.

"Well, mom, you're not really being very fair here. It kind of
comes across as homophobia."

"No, this is not discrimination. I just don't want any of your
siblings walking in like I did this morning." said Jenny

"You know what mom; I don't want to deal with this right now. I
told Luke I would meet him in twenty minutes half an hour ago."
said Ken

"Oh, so Luke is more important than your family." accused Jenny

"Don't twist my words around mother, 'because you know that's not
true. I just don't want to deal with your crap right now." said
Ken

�

����������� Before she could respond to what he had said to her,
he had left the room. He stormed out of the house. He was so
shocked that his mother would ever treat his relationship with
Luke that way, with such disrespect. He walked into Luke's house
without knocking at the door. He knew that Luke was the only one
home, so he didn't bother with it. He went straight to the living
room, and sat on the couch. Luke heard the door open and close so
he figured it was Ken.

�

"Ken, is that you?" yelled Luke from upstairs

"Yeah babe" yelled Ken

"I'll be down in a sec" yelled Luke

"Kay" yelled Ken

It was only about two minutes until Luke came down to greet Ken

"Hey babe" said Luke as he walked into the living room

"Hey" replied Ken as he stood up from the couch to hug and kiss
Luke

"Hey what's wrong?" asked Luke seeing Ken's down face.

"Oh, nothing; my mom was giving me crap about what she saw." said
Ken

"Sit back down, let's talk." said Luke. They sat and began
chatting again.

"So, I bet that's tough for you. You're really close with your
mother." said Luke

"Yeah, and I just thought that she was okay with you and me being
together, but today, it just seemed like she did a total one
eighty in the negative direction." said Ken

"What did she say?" asked Luke

"She said that she didn't want us being
together in my house." said Ken

"Why?" asked Luke

"She said because she could've easily been one of my little
brothers or sister." said Ken

"Then we can lock the door." said Luke

"That's what I said, but she said that she didn't want any locked
doors in the house." said Ken

"Well, she's not totally out of place. It would be awful if one
of your siblings found us together, and it is her house, she gets
to dictate what happens in it." said Luke

"Are you serious? You're going to take her side in this." said
Ken

"No, I'm not taking sides, but I'm trying to see it her way and
not be so quick to judge her like you're doing."

"I am aren't I" said Ken

"Yes, and I know it's because you love me, so I'm not totally
disappointed in you but, you have to just try and see it from her
side first." said Luke

"You're right. I feel lie such an asshole." said Ken

�

����������� They spent the rest of the day, just laying around
and relaxing. Ken loved to cuddle up into Luke's arms, and just
be, just live. There was nothing more livening to him. As they
were cuddling, and watching television, the subject of graduation
came to the conversation.

�

"So, graduation is coming up; is Lisa planning a party for you?"
asked Ken

"No, we're all the family we have; both of our parents were only
children, so this is it for us." answered Luke

"Well, my mom is planning this big party with my entire family.
There's going to be like eighty people there. You and your family
can come join us if you want." suggested Ken

"I don't know, I don't want to intrude on your family time." said
Luke

"Come on, it's okay. You're practically family anyways. Tell you
what; we can announce that we're going to move in together at the
party."

"I don't know." said Luke

"Come on, it'll be like my coming out to the rest of my family.
You don't want to miss that do you?" asked Ken

"I thought you were out to your family already?" asked Luke

"Just my immediate family, not my extended family, so what do you
say?" asked Ken

"Okay, I'll ask Lisa if she wants to go, when is it?" asked Luke

"That's great, it's gonna be blast see all of my family's faces
when they see me with you." said Ken

"Yeah, it should be interesting. When is it?" said Luke

"It's the Saturday before graduation day." said Ken

"Okay" said Luke

�

����������� Luke didn't really want to show it, but he was
really, really excited. He wasn't excited to see the reaction of
Ken's family, but to meet all of Ken's family. Meeting your
lover's family is another big step for them to take. Ken has
already met all of Luke's family, at least that Luke knows of. He
could have some long lost great aunts or uncle that he doesn't
know about.

����������� About two days later, Luke finally remembered to ask
Lisa if she wanted to go. She sounded really excited to go, for
the same reason that Luke was. She was excited to meet Ken's
family. She felt like Ken was her own little brother, and was
really close with him, since he spent so much time at her house.
She asked Casey and Amanda if they wanted to go, but they didn't.

����������� A week had gone by, and the day of the party had
already arrived. Luke was full of nerves from the moment he woke
up in the morning, and the party wasn't until six o'clock. Ken
knew Luke really well, and so he figured that he might be
nervous. In making that conclusion, he decided to go over to
Luke's after breakfast to see if he could talk him out of his
nerves.

�

"You aren't nervous, are you Luke?" asked Ken

"No not in the least bit….Hell I'm a big wreck!" said a sarcastic
panicky Luke

"What are you so nervous about?" asked Ken

"Um hello, I'm about to meet your entire family. What if they
don't like me, or worse, what if they don't approve of our
relationship?"

"Don't even worry about that. If they don't like you, that's
okay, all that matters is that I love you, and if they don't
approve of our relationship, so what, they don't dictate who I
see and who I don't." said Ken

Luke took a deep breath and released some tension "You're right,
I shouldn't be so nervous." said Luke

�

����������� Ken went back home as soon as he was sure that Luke
had calmed down his nerved. Luke was still a little nervous, but
not as much as he was before Ken calmed him down. That was one
thing that he knew Ken could always help him out with; calming
him down.

����������� Before they knew it, it was six o' clock. Luke didn't
want to get there all early with no one else there, so he didn't
start to get ready until six, and the same went with Lisa. By the
time that they were both ready, it was already eight o' clock.
They walked Johnston house, which even the front of the house was
covered in decorations. The decorations were the school colors;
red, black, and charcoal grey. They rang the door bell, and
waited for about five minutes before someone answered. It was
Jenny at the door.

�

"Hey you guys, glad you could come. Come on in." said a cheerful
Jenny

"Thanks for inviting us.' said Lisa.

�

����������� They walked in, and there was people and decorations.
Tons of people saying hi to them, and they didn't even know each
other. Ken's family was extremely, almost weirdly nice. There
were tables everywhere; inside the house, and in the backyard.
Lisa and Luke decided that it was best to sit at a table in the
backyard, along with Ken.

����������� They walked out into the backyard, and there were
even more tables and more people and decorations. Luke spotted
Ken at the opposite end of the enormous backyard. He felt happy
seeing Ken so happy, laughing and getting along with his family.
Lisa went to get something to eat, and Luke went straight to the
one he loves.

�

"Hey, Ken" said Luke reaching in to kiss Ken

"Wait, not yet." said Ken as he stopped Luke from kissing him.

"Oh, okay, sorry." said Luke as he just shook Ken's hand

Ken was talking to his step aunt Franny Johnston

"Introduce me to your friend, Kenny." said Franny

"Oh, sorry Aunt Franny; this Luke, and he's not my friend." said
Ken

"Then what is he?" asked Franny

"He's my boyfriend" said Ken as he grabbed Luke's hand and held
it in his.

"Oh…what?" asked Franny

"This would mean that I am gay, aunt Franny." said Ken

"Since when?" asked Franny

"Um since I was born." said Ken

"Oh my God, does your mother know?" asked Franny

"Since I was fifteen." said Ken

"I know this is a lot to take in um, Franny is it?" said Luke

"Yes it is; but why are you hear?" asked Franny

"He's here to celebrate our graduation, Franny, and he's my
boyfriend, I think he's got a right to be here." said Ken

"My mother happens to like Luke very much, she even let him stay
at our house for a while." said Ken

"What! Why would she do that?"

"Look, I don't want to get in the middle of this family
conversation. I'm just going to go sit down with my sister." said
Luke

"Yes I think you should do that." said Franny

"No, I want you here." said Ken

"I'm not here for you to rub this into your family's faces. I'm
here to support you. So, come find me when you're finished here."
said Luke, and then he gave Ken a peck on the cheek. Lisa got a
table that was with two more of Ken's aunts, and their families.
He sat and more questions were thrown his way.

"So, your sister tells us that your neighbors." said one of Ken's
aunts

"Yes we are neighbors." responded Luke

"Why are you the only neighbors here at the party?" asked the
other aunt.

"Well, I guess you could say Ken and I are more than just
neighbors." said Luke

"Oh, are you best friends?" asked the first aunt.

"No, we're boyfriends." said Luke

"What?"

"Ken is gay, and so am I." said Luke

"Oh my God, does our sister know?" asked the first aunt

"Yeah, she knows." said Luke

"Does she know that you two are . . ."
said the second aunt

"Dating?" said Luke

"Yeah…that." said the second aunt

"Yeah, she knows we're dating."

"Wow my cousin is gay." said Ken's cousin, Charlie.

"Don't say that word." said his mother, the second aunt

"Why can't he say it, do have something wrong with gay people."
said Lisa

"Don't Lisa, its okay.' said Luke

"No, Luke, I'm not going to let this lady insult you." said Lisa

'That's not what I meant." said the aunt

"Then what exactly did you mean than lady." said Lisa

"Just drop it Lisa. I don't want to ruin Ken's party." said Luke

"Maybe you're right. I apologize ma'am. I didn't mean to be so
intense. I just love my brother, so much and just get kind of
defensive when it comes to him." said Lisa

"It's alright, I shouldn't have said what I said; it was
insensitive." said the aunt

Just then Ken showed up behind Luke

"Luke, can I borrow you for a second." asked Ken

"Sure" said Luke, getting up.

"It's time to make our announcement." said Ken

"What announcement?" asked Luke

"We're going to announce that we're moving in together." said Ken

"Oh, right." said Luke

Ken got onto the highest point of the steps leading up to the
house from the backyard, pulling Luke behind him, holding his
hand.

"Excuse me everyone! Can I have everyone's attentions please!"
said Ken

Everyone soon turned to see Ken and Luke standing on the top of
the stairs, and quieted down.

"If you haven't met him tonight, this is Luke Wallace; my
boyfriend." said Ken in a loud toned voice "Yes, you heard me
right; my boyfriend. I'm gay, and after we graduate on Thursday,
we're going to rent an apartment and move in together."

�

����������� A silence fell upon the crowd for just a second, and
then whispers swept through them like a tidal wave. Jenny quickly
made her way up the stairs to meet Ken.

�

"Ken, can we talk in private for a moment?" asked Jenny

"Anything that you're going to say to me you can say to Luke."
said Ken

"I don't think so." said Jenny

"He's my lover, there's nothing that I want to keep from him."
said Ken

"Ken its okay, stop being so impossible. I'll go back and save
Lisa from all the questions from your aunts." said Luke

"Luke, I thought you said you were here to support me." said Ken

"I am, but I don't like when you push your agendas on people."
said Luke

�

����������� Ken for once, had to be talked down by Luke instead
of it being vice versa. It took a few minutes, but Ken saw the
error in his ways. He saw that shoving his homosexuality down his
family's throats wasn't the best way to come out to them. So,
once he realized this, he wanted to apologize, and he wanted
Luke's help. So, he went back up to the top of the stairs, and
got everyone's attention.

�

"Listen everyone, I know the last time I talked to all of you at
once, and I was a little harsh with shoving my personal life down
your throats. The truth is, last summer, I was lucky enough to
meet someone that I connected with on all the levels that have
ever mattered. And I don't know if it was luck or fate that
brought love to this relationship and the truth is, I love this
person standing next to me. I love him so much that it hurts. It
hurts me to know that our love isn't accepted by everyone, and
that possibly includes some of you. And you know what? I'm okay
with that, because all that matters to me is that this person,
Luke Wallace, loves me back. Now don't get me wrong, you guys are
my family and I love you all, but my mother has always taught me
that no one should ever get between me and my happiness. So, I am
going to love Luke for the rest of my life, and nothing any of
you can say will change that."

�

����������� Ken looked over to Luke, and could see tears swelling
up in Luke's light brown eyes. When he saw this, Ken wrapped is
arm around Luke's waist and pulled Luke towards him. Their faces
were barely an inch apart, and Ken kissed Luke so passionately
that Luke could feel his heart actually beat faster and faster.
When they stopped, Luke was so flustered that he actually began
to blush. Ken had never kissed Luke like that, not even when they
made love.

����������� Ken's family wasn't proud of the way that Ken decided
to come out, but they did accept him. Ken, and Luke, was so happy
that they did. There is nothing worse than having family turn you
away because of who you are. That was the last thing that Luke
wanted Ken to go through.

����������� Luke and Ken's life, from the time they met, to the
time that they moved in together, was filled with mystery, pain,
and tragedy, but their love persevered through all of it. In the
end they were as happy, if not more happy, than anyone their age
could be. They had each other's love, and that was something they
didn't want to take for granted, because if they learned anything
from living on Daily Lane through that horrible year, it was
that, at any time, all of their happy times could be interrupted
and torn apart by tragedy.